Ivypool's Heart || Warriors ✔

Chapter 29

Close to five moons have passed now, and Ivypool and Blossomfall are still living with the barn cats. The pair of them enjoying their new life with these cats, but still yearning for their old lives back in ThunderClan.

They would like to return to ThunderClan eventually if they had any idea when would be the best time to return. But if they never decide to return, then they're perfectly content living with these cats. It definitely won't stop them from missing their home back in ThunderClan though.

From the time that they have spent living with these cats, they have met lots of cats like themselves, and have made a bunch of new friends that they would be sad to say goodbye to if they were to leave. Which is one of the reasons why they haven't tried to return turn to ThunderClan yet. They don't want to say goodbye to any of their new friends.

Currently though, the two of them have decided to go out hunting together. It's kind of one of the only things they can do here, as they don't need to worry about rival Clans. But that doesn't stop them from doing a bit of battle training. They may not need to worry about a lot here, but they don't want to forget their battle training.

They've even taught some moves to the cats they've been living with. The youngest cats were definitely keen to learn. Even Bucky gave it a go, even with his missing front leg that Ivypool and Blossomfall have learned he lost after being hit by a car, and his leg being crushed in the accident.

As Ivypool buries her rabbit that she had just caught to take back to the barn once they're finished hunting, she looks up over towards the trees in alarm. There's a rustling coming from in the bushes below the trees, and she can't quite see who or what is making that noise.

She knows it's not Blossomfall, as she went off to hunt in the opposite direction, and it doesn't smell like any of the barn cats. Maybe it's a cat looking for a place to stay for a while?

Though, as Ivypool moves a little closer slowly, she can smell that it's definitely a cat. But there's something familiar about this cat. Something that she hasn't been able to scent in a long time, but can still recognize easily.

ThunderClan!

Straightening up, she goes to walk over to the bush to figure out who it is, but jumps back as a white tom bursts out of the bushes.

It's Snowpaw, her former apprentice.

"Snowpaw!" Ivypool exclaims, as she looks her former apprentice up and down. He looks a lot bigger than last time she saw him, and Ivypool realizes that he must be a warrior already by now.

"Ivypool!" He exclaims, running straight over to his former mentor, and rubbing against her, purring as he does so. "Oh, I'm so glad that I've found you!" He says. "I've been looking for you and Blossomfall for nearly a quarter moon!"

This surprises Ivypool. He's been looking for her and Blossomfall? Does that mean it's safe to return home to ThunderClan?

"You've been looking for us?" She asks.

He nods. "Jayfeather had a dream from StarClan saying that you and Blossomfall are to return." He says. "Something about you and Blossomfall having to leave to discover there are more cats like the both of you or something."

Ivypool doesn't know what to think of that. She had a feeling that StarClan might have been testing them, but why? She doesn't understand why they couldn't tell her and Blossomfall that this is okay and there's other cats like them. Also, why wait till now to say that this was all basically a test?

"Snowpaw, I don't know what to say...." She trails off. "I mean, Blossomfall and I do very much miss ThunderClan. But... we're both happy here. More or less."

"Come on, Ivypool! The Clan needs you both back." He says. "We've all missed you." He stands back a little. "Also, it's Snowbush now." He announces proudly.

Ivypool swells with pride at the news that her former apprentice is now a warrior. But, she regrets not being there to see him become one and to receive his warrior name.

"And, you might be interested to know that Dovewing has had a litter of kits." Snowbush adds. "Fathered by Bumblestripe of course."

"What?" Ivypool asks, the news about her sister having a litter of kits definitely catching her attention. Her sister had kits, and she wasn't even there to see them....

"Yep! Two she-cats and a tom." He says. "Ivykit and Foxkit for the she-cats, and Waspkit for the tom."

She named one Ivykit?

Dovewing had named one of her kits after her, and Ivypool isn't sure what to say to that. She feels honored of course, but she assumes that Dovewing had named her that because she thought they'd never see each other again.

"Hey Ivypool. Who are you talking to?" Blossomfall asks, walking over towards her mate, but stops as she sees the white tom with her. "Snowpaw?"

Both Ivypool and Snowbush turn to look at her, and forgetting about the shrew at her paws, Blossomfall runs over to them.

"It's Snowbush actually." Snowbush corrects her. "I'm a warrior now!"

Blossomfall purrs at that. "Well done!" She says. "But why are you here, and how did you find us?" She asks, confused on why the tom is here.

"Jayfeather had a dream from StarClan saying that you both had to leave the Clan to find out there are other cats like yourselves, and that you are to return." He says. "I guess StarClan were testing you both or something."

Blossomfall looks over to Ivypool. The both of them now know that they can return to ThunderClan, but they're also more or less happy where they are. Even if they do miss ThunderClan. So, do they really want to leave?

They both had agreed with each other that they'd like to return to ThunderClan, but now that the opportunity has arisen... they aren't entirely sure if they really want to return after all.

Though Ivypool does want to see her sister's kits, and she's sure that Blossomfall would want to see her brother's kits.

"Let's go back to the barn and decide from there." Blossomfall suggests, before turning to Snowbush. "You must be tired."

Snowbush nods. "Hungry too."

Ivypool purrs. "Come back with us. Muffy and Sooty won't mind if you come to the barn." She says. "After you've eaten and had some rest, we can go from there."

"Sounds great!" Snowbush says.

Ivypool and Blossomfall go back to where they've stored their catch, dividing it up between the two of them and Snowbush to take back to the barn. It's not really a lot, as their hunt was disrupted by Snowbush's arrival, but it's still a decently sized catch either way.

Once they've gathered their catch and divided it between them, Ivypool and Blossomfall lead the way back to the barn with Snowbush following along behind them. The three of them not sure as to what is going to happen now... and whether or not Ivypool and Blossomfall will decide to return to ThunderClan....